Samuel Johnson

Our tastes greatly alter. The lad does not care for the child’s rattle, and the old man does not care for the young man’s whore.

It is better that some should be unhappy than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality.

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.

There are charms made only for distance admiration.

Between falsehood and useless truth there is little difference. As gold which he cannot spend will make no man rich, so knowledge which cannot apply will make no man wise.

If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.

There isn’t a single human characteristic that can be safely labeled as American.

What makes life dreary is the want of a motive.

Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.

Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.

He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar; and many fold in their passage; while they lie waiting for the gale.

There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.

Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit.

Our best history is still poetry.

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.

The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.

The trouble with you Chicago people is that you think you are the best people down here, whereas you are merely the most numerous.

If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him.

Leave the rest to the gods.

When you introduce a moral lesson, let it be brief.